[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 67 (Wednesday, April 8, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 17156]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-9259]



[[Page 17156]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 032598A]


Release of Stranded Marine Mammals to the Wild: Background, 
Preparation and Release Criteria

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS and the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Interior, have 
prepared draft guidance on the release of rehabilitated marine mammals 
to the wild. NMFS and FWS are requesting comments on this document 
before it is finalized.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before June 8, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the (Draft) Release of Stranded Marine Mammals to 
the Wild: Background, Preparation and Release Criteria may be obtained 
from, and written comments submitted to, the Marine Mammal Health and 
Stranding Response Coordinator, Marine Mammal Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, 1315 East West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland 
20910. A copy of the draft release guidelines is also available at 
www.nmfs.gov/tmcintyr/prot_res. Comments submitted via email or the 
internet will not be accepted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Teri Rowles, phone 301-713-2322 or fax 
301-713-0376.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 402 (a) of the Marine Mammal 
Protection Act (MMPA) requires the Secretary of Commerce, in 
consultation with the Marine Mammal Commission, the Secretary of 
Interior, and other experts to develop objective criteria and guidance 
for determining at what point a rehabilitated marine mammal is 
releasable to the wild. This document provides a discussion of the 
current rules and regulations involving release of stranded animals, 
background information on rehabilitation and ethics of rehabilitation. 
The guidelines are divided into four sections: pinnipeds (seals, sea 
lions and walruses), cetaceans (whales and dolphins), sea otters, and 
sirenians (manatees). These are discussed separately so that the unique 
aspects of each can be addressed.
    Within each section, four areas of consideration are presented: 
natural history, medicine, behavior, and release. These areas of 
consideration identify specific criteria that should be addressed when 
considering an animal's release candidacy. Some of the criteria, if not 
met, dictate that an animal should not be released. However, many of 
the release criteria do not easily translate into yes-no release 
determinations. These issues must be evaluated together on a case-by-
case basis, to determine if the animal's release satisfies the 
agencies' two fundamental criteria: the animal poses no threat to wild 
populations if released, and the animal is physically and behaviorally 
healthy and likely to survive.
    Within each area of consideration, there are discussions of 
required treatment actions, strongly recommended actions, and suggested 
actions, which are based on current rules and regulations or on medical 
considerations. Data gap, suggested research and potential new 
evaluation techniques are also discussed. The agencies recognize that 
this field may be changing and plan to periodically update these 
guidelines as new information becomes available or new rules and 
regulations apply.

    Dated: April 1, 1998.
Patricia A. Montanio,
Deputy Director, Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries.
[FR Doc. 98-9259 Filed 4-7-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F